Hurtigruten Expeditions Foundation Awards $260K in Global Conservation Grants
The HX Foundation, the charitable division of HX Expeditions, has awarded more than $260,000 in grants to support global initiatives focused on conservation, science, and community wellbeing. This funding round, the foundation’s second standalone grant cycle, targets oceanic and polar regions where HX operates, reaffirming the brand’s commitment to advancing sustainability and scientific research.
Of the total amount, $74,000 has been allocated to seven single-year projects selected by the foundation’s board. These initiatives were chosen for their alignment with HX’s mission of promoting science-based solutions, supporting wildlife protection, and enhancing the wellbeing of communities connected to the sea and polar regions.
Among the grant recipients is Argentina’s Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, which will study the acoustic behavior of Franciscana dolphins near gillnets to evaluate how effective acoustic deterrents are at reducing bycatch of this endangered species. Germany’s Helmholtz Innovation Platform SOOP continues its partnership with HX vessels, supporting onboard scientific data collection and outreach through the 2025/2026 season.
In Iceland, the SEA LIFE TRUST Beluga Whale Sanctuary is receiving funding to build a new sterile testing area for avian flu, protecting seabirds such as puffins and guillemots during rehabilitation. In the United States, Sitka Trail Works will use its grant to maintain critical hiking trails in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, preserving accessibility in one of the world’s largest temperate rainforests.
The National University of Córdoba in Argentina will launch an innovative underwater monitoring program in the West Antarctic Peninsula, combining scientific research with tourist engagement through citizen science. In Norway, Arctic Storm AS and Maria Philippa Rossi will carry out “Arctic Mysteries,” a science communication project designed to simplify Arctic science for children and families. The HX Foundation is also considering distributing Rossi’s related educational book onboard its ships.
Rounding out the list is Oxford Brookes University’s Penguin Watch program in the UK, which will receive funding to fill knowledge gaps in penguin population data in the Falklands/Malvinas and South Georgia.
In addition to these newly selected projects, the HX Foundation continues its support of several multiyear initiatives, with more than $126,000 earmarked for 2025 and $61,000 already committed for 2026. Among the long-term beneficiaries is the Association of Greenlandic Children, which supports youth in need across Greenland.
Other ongoing initiatives include a University of California study on climate change impacts on humpback whales, particularly in Antarctica, and the Norwegian Rescue Dogs Svalbard (NRS), a volunteer search and rescue group vital to emergency operations in Svalbard. The RSPB’s “Saving Orkney’s Native Wildlife” project in Scotland also continues to receive funding, supporting efforts to protect rare birds and their nesting habitats in the Orkney Islands.
Henrik A Lund, Managing Director of the HX Foundation, emphasized the importance of these grants at a time when public funding for climate and science is being scaled back in some regions. “This second round of standalone grants continues our dedication to fostering practical scientific solutions and cross-sector partnerships in polar and oceanic regions,” said Lund. “The money we raise is more critical than ever before.”
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